Google I / O is just around the corner, and things are already shaping up for a rather eventful conference. While we can certainly expect a lot of developer talk at the event, there are tons of keynotes and consumer-focused features that will come out of I / O. If we’m lucky, we might even get a hardware message or two.
Aside from the official schedule that Google has already announced, there have been a ton of leaks to help us paint a picture of what we can expect from the big event. Google I / O 2022 launches on May 11, which is less than two weeks away, giving us plenty of time to get excited about what’s coming! Here’s a list of what we expect to see at the event, along with some speculation as to what Google might be announcing.
Android 13
Google’s next big OS version is already here … so to speak. The company recently released the first Android 13 beta, which brought us closer to the final release. Although there has been plenty to see through the beta and previous developer previews, we expect Google to have a lot more to say about the features we’ll see in the final version.
Android 13 is not expected to be the same major overhaul as Android 12 was. However, it looks like Android 13 will build on Android 12L, which refines much of the work of optimizing Android for larger screened devices like foldable devices and tablets.
Carry OS 3
We heard a lot about Wear OS 3 on Google I / O last year, but apart from the Galaxy Watch 4 running Samsung’s taste, we have not yet seen the storage experience in action. This is what we expect to appear on many of the best Wear OS watches when the update rolls out later in the year. We’ve already seen glimpses of it through the Wear OS emulator, but it’s time we got a full look at Wear OS 3 after it was announced a full year ago.
With a little luck, Google will also give us a fixed date on when we can expect the update to roll out on currently qualified smartwatches. But of course we can not talk about Wear OS 3 without mentioning …
Pixel Watch?
We are not sure about this one, but it seems likely. Leaks have been rising lately, especially after the Pixel Watch was “accidentally” left at a restaurant in Chicago. The device looks exactly like what we’ve seen in previous renderings, and it’s left us cautiously optimistic about Google’s first smartwatch.
We hear it could be announced or at least teased on Google I / O, with a full launch alongside the Pixel 7 series. Hope we hear something!
Smart home
Google has made many changes to its Google Home app, updated UI elements to make it easier to use and much more useful. We expect that the company is doing something and that there can be much more on the horizon. There has been talk of a new Nest Hub display with a tablet-like design, and such a device will likely require an upgrade to Google’s smarthome platform.
There is also the issue of Matter and the company’s efforts with the unified smart home standard. Yes, it keeps getting delayed, but Big Tech seems pretty committed. Therefore, we imagine that there may be more to say about it on I / O.
Pixel 6a
Unlike last year’s late launch of Pixel 5a, Google is expected to introduce Pixel 6a at I / O, at least according to a rumor. It’s likely to have the same design as its advanced siblings, which is not a bad thing. That said, despite the likelihood that it will be powered by the same Tensor chipset, the Pixel 6a will likely have a few downgrades as well.
A recent leak suggests that the 6a does not support the same camera features as the Pixel 6 flagships. This may be due to smaller camera hardware, as it will likely have the same primary camera found in previous Pixels. Still, this could end up being one of the best budget Android phones of the year, and Google should definitely aim to launch it sooner rather than later.
Google Pay
We expect Google to talk at length about its apps and software, but Google Pay has been in the spotlight recently and we can not help but feel that Google has planned something for I / O. Recent reports suggest that the company is preparing to rebrand its digital wallet, bringing us back to Google “Wallet” and retaining the Google Pay name for transactions.
In some ways, that seems like a logical move, especially given the company’s desire to turn Google Pay into a “comprehensive digital wallet.” It looks like we’ll hear more about Google’s ambitions in I / O.
What not to expect
Although we expect some hardware announcements at I / O, we would not breathe too much of it. As we wait for Pixel 6a to launch, it’s unlikely that Google will mention Pixel 7 at I / O at all. And while rumors suggest that the Pixel 7 is not the only flagship we can expect this year, it is rumored that the foldable Pixel Notepad will launch sometime in October.
As mentioned before, it looks like Google may be teasing the Pixel Watch at I / O, but a full unveiling is unlikely to take place until later this year, just as Google pre-announced the Pixel 6 series last year.
Another thing we do not expect to see is Project Iris. That’s the name of Google’s notorious AR headset. We’ve seen the company make progress in AR, especially with Google Lens. However, the company probably wants to build its own hardware to meet Meta’s ambitions. That said, we do not expect this to happen before 2024, so it is unlikely we will hear about it at I / O this year. That is, if Google remains committed to the project.